County Council approves budget for fiscal year 2018

The Anne Arundel County Council on Wednesday passed a final version of the fiscal year 2018 budget, a $1.5 billion spending plan that funds a salary step for teachers, 40 new public safety officers and a boost to renovation projects at three aging elementary schools, among other items.

Council members voted 6-1 to approve the budget. Councilman Michael Peroutka, R-Millersville, was the sole dissenting voice.

The vote capped a relatively calm budget season, which launched May 1, the day County Executive Steve Schuh unveiled his proposal for FY18. The budget covers county operations from July 1 through June 30, 2018.

"It was a very uneventful budget," Council Chairman John Grasso, R-Glen Burnie, said after the voting session, which lasted less than an hour and a half.

In a statement, Schuh called the final budget "a major victory for our citizens and taxpayers."

His spokesman, Owen McEvoy, said the process was "much smoother than in previous years" — such as in 2015, when the council spent hours debating major policy changes, such as extending the life of county bonds.

Part of the reason for the lack of major controversy was the budget's contribution to education spending, often one of the most contentious topics.

The county's budget plan allocates $15 million to teacher salary step increases and more than $20 million to shoring up the school system's struggling health care fund. All of the school system's employee unions except for the secretaries' association have agreed to increase the percentage employees pay toward their health plans in exchange for county aid in closing the deficit.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier said Wednesday evening that the secretaries' union and school board had reached a tentative agreement, but he declined to provide details until it has been ratified by both parties.

"This budget season has been one ruled by collaboration instead of conflict," schools Superintendent George Arlotto said in a statement. "The majority of our employees have agreed to share in the sacrifices necessary to accomplish these goals, and the county executive and County Council have been willing partners as we have traveled this difficult but necessary road."

Council members did decide to eliminate one of Schuh's proposed tax cuts, which would have exempted athletic and recreational facilities from the county's 10 percent admissions and amusement tax.

Councilman Andrew Pruski, D-Gambrills, said he wasn't sure savings from the tax break would be passed along to customers. He noted that the cut would benefit private businesses — including local gyms, paintball parks, shooting ranges and country clubs, such as Gibson Island Club and Chartwell.

The council rejected the exemption by a 3-2 vote. Councilmen Derek Fink, R-Pasadena, and Peroutka abstained; both said they are members of Chartwell Country Club.

The council did approve two other tax cuts — one exempting movie theaters from the admissions and amusement tax, and the other repealing the $300-a-year mobile home space tax.

Council members proposed several amendments to the budget before the final vote.

The council voted to restore $252,000 in planning and design money for a controversial improvement project at Beverly Triton Beach Park in Mayo. Residents, who are concerned about the effect of more visitors on the peninsula's already strained infrastructure, have asked the county to slow plans for building more amenities at the park.

Money for the project in FY19, meanwhile, was reduced so the county only has enough to pay for shoreline restoration work at the park. The remainder of scheduled funds — for construction of new amenities such as a bath house and new parking spaces — were moved to FY20 to make time for more community comment.

Councilman Jerry Walker, a Crofton Republican who represents the Mayo Peninsula, called the delay "a substantial win for the community."

He said residents want to see the completion of an aquifer assessment, Route 214 transportation study and a small area plan for the peninsula before any construction at the park moves forward.

The council had voted on Friday to support an amendment from Walker cutting planning and design funds from the project in an attempt to further slow the project, but councilmen reversed that decision in the final vote.

Councilman Chris Trumbauer, D-Annapolis, said the council's decision to preserve planning and design funds doesn't mean that construction plans at the park would move forward without community buy-in. He encouraged the administration to schedule more opportunities to collect public input on the project.

"From my perspective, this is the next step in the process," he said. "I don't feel it obligates us to do construction in the following years if we're not comfortable with the plan."

The council clashed with administration officials over another local issue: funding for a planned extension of Hospital Drive in Glen Burnie.

Grasso proposed delaying money for the project at the request of constituents fighting a proposed 100-home development that is awaiting a rezoning decision at the Board of Appeals. Council members voted to approve the cut on Friday.

But the county's Office of Law contested the decision, saying the council has no power to cut previously approved funds.

"It is axiomatic that the County Council can only consider the capital budget put before it in the current year," said Deputy County Attorney Hamilton Tyler.

"It's just an opinion," he said. "We're the final fiscal authority — it's that simple."

Though Tyler's memorandum implied the county might proceed with the Hospital Drive project without the council's approval, Budget Officer John Hammond said the administration hasn't made any decision about next steps.

Council members also sent an additional $2 million to split among renovation projects at three of the county's most decrepit elementary schools: Tyler Heights, Edgewater and Richard Henry Lee.

County Auditor Jodee Dickinson and AACPS officials have predicted the projects will need a combined $13 million in additional funding over the next few years.

Trumbauer, who proposed the extra funds, said they come from other school construction projects that were finished under budget.

"I think we'll have to do more next year, but this at least gives us a leg up," he said. "This is a priority project — the community expects this to be done, I expect this to be done."

Though Peroutka voted to support a majority of the budget's amendments, he voted against the final budget document.

The councilman said the vote was "a matter of conscience."

"I do the best I can to try to make the budget what I think it ought to be, but in the final analysis, there's many, many things in there that I believe are either outside of our jurisdiction of not in our authority to do," he said.

As examples, Peroutka cited the council's approval of federal grant money, which he feels introduces outside influence on local government, and county grants to local nonprofits.

"I believe that when you tax people, we're demanding that they give over the money ... it loses its charitable nature by the fact that it's coerced," he said.

Other highlights of the budget include:

•$1.5 million for artificial turf fields at county regional parks

•$162,300 for two new deputy sheriffs to provide security at the Circuit Courthouse

•$50,000 to jump-start the county's General Development Plan process

•Funding to open two new boat ramps this year — one in Shady Side and the other in Solley Cove

The new budget takes effect July 1.

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Preparations are underway for the hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Preparations are underway for the hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

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Preparations are underway for the hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Preparations are underway for the hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

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Matt Barry, Westfield District Manager, Maryland, Annapolis, talks about the upgrades. There are many changes coming to the the Westfield Annapolis Mall, including the remodeling of the food court area, upgrades to Bow Tie Cinemas and rest room areas.

Matt Barry, Westfield District Manager, Maryland, Annapolis, talks about the upgrades. There are many changes coming to the the Westfield Annapolis Mall, including the remodeling of the food court area, upgrades to Bow Tie Cinemas and rest room areas.

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Adults and children paint inspiring messages onto small stones at the Kindness Rocks event at the Glen Burnie Public Library Monday February 19th, 2018.

Adults and children paint inspiring messages onto small stones at the Kindness Rocks event at the Glen Burnie Public Library Monday February 19th, 2018.

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Artists work at Monarch Academy Annapolis to paint a mural inspired by the region's cultural and culinary connection to the Chesapeake Bay.

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